Hike date 23rd and 24th July 2005.
Ontake Mountain (3067 meters). 35.53°N/137.28°E, Japan.
Active Valcano, Last erupted 1979.
6:49AM : Took the train from Hirooka Station, Sanjay joined me at Shiojiri.
7:37AM : Reached Kiso-Fukushima.
7:50AM : Took a Bus to Ontake Sancho
9:20AM : Reached Ontake Sancho
9:30AM : Started trekking
Ontake Mountain (3067 meters). 35.53°N/137.28°E, Japan.
Active Valcano, Last erupted 1979.
6:49AM : Took the train from Hirooka Station, Sanjay joined me at Shiojiri.
7:37AM : Reached Kiso-Fukushima.
7:50AM : Took a Bus to Ontake Sancho
9:20AM : Reached Ontake Sancho
9:30AM : Started trekking
Ontake San happens to be a very holy mountain, one can find pilgrims dressed in white climbing the mountain.
9:45AM : After trekking for 15 minutes I bumped into a group of piligrims who were offering their prayers, only to realize that I hit a dead end. We took the wrong trail, walked downhill and reached the parking area.
10:00AM : It was pretty cloudy to figure out where the mountain stands. Now I bid farewell to my intuitive abilities and used the little left over commonsense to figureout a map and head straight.
The trail was quite wide and flat for the initial 30 miutes of the climb. Latter it got narrow, rocky and steep.
Some how my stamina sounded all time low. I was resting every 10-15 minutes. The climb to the peak was suppose to take between 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Sanjay was oozing with energy and soon I lost sight of him. I started trekking at my own phase.
Some how my stamina sounded all time low. I was resting every 10-15 minutes. The climb to the peak was suppose to take between 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Sanjay was oozing with energy and soon I lost sight of him. I started trekking at my own phase.
1:10PM : It was quite an ordeal when I reached the 2937 meter mark where the first mountain hut stands. I rested for a while and started my way up, still Sanjay was not in line of sight.
1:40PM : Now it turned out to be much steeper and I dropped the plan of heading any further. I squatted on the rocks, to find a gentleman who cushioned himself to slumber. Shortly I met Sanjay who already made it to the peak, I was having some food when a wave of sulphur smell swept, thats when I took notice of the hissing geysers.
1:40PM : Now it turned out to be much steeper and I dropped the plan of heading any further. I squatted on the rocks, to find a gentleman who cushioned himself to slumber. Shortly I met Sanjay who already made it to the peak, I was having some food when a wave of sulphur smell swept, thats when I took notice of the hissing geysers.
2:10PM : I was a dead man walking when I reached the shrine. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sparrow strutting at that altitude.
2:30PM : We planned to climb down and reach the base to take the last bus, we met a lady who works in the mountain hut who spoke decent english and she visited India some 10 yrs back to trek the Himalayas. She advised us that it would be rather difficult to make it to the base in time for the last bus. But we decided to take our chances.
2:45PM: A 15 minute walk downhill and I was feeling dizzy and took the final call of hanging out at the hut for the night.
3:15PM: We reached the mountain hut and logged in. It was costing some ~7000Yen per night including dinner and breakfast. Sanjay and myself being vegetarians, we had to bargain for some veg-stuff.
4:30PM: It was the usual Japanese dinner time, but we deferred ours for 7:00PM and I took a shot nap.
6:40PM: I had severe convolutions and an upchuck bettered me for the rest of the day.
7:00PM: I had a paltry dinner and got into bed by 8:00PM. We were sharing the floor with some 50 pilgrims and trekkers.
4:20AM: A slight commotion woke me up, to realize that they are up to watch the early morning sunrise from the top.
4:45AM: Soon I grabbed my camera and waded out of the hut. It was pretty cold. Shot some candid shots of the Sunrise for Ontake-san.
5:30AM: The morning breakfast got some life into me.
4:45AM: Soon I grabbed my camera and waded out of the hut. It was pretty cold. Shot some candid shots of the Sunrise for Ontake-san.
5:30AM: The morning breakfast got some life into me.
6:30AM: We had a posed in for some shots and started hiking down. At 7:15AM I took the first break and by 8:00AM we were at the bus terminal.
8:25AM: The bus was scheduled to arrive at 9:20AM so I strolled around the adjacent Tanohara National Park. Groups of Nature photographers wandered around.
10:50AM: We were at Kiso Fukushima station and took the 11:28AM train to Shiojiri. Slightly after Noon I was home.
Over all it was an experience unique in its own way.
10:50AM: We were at Kiso Fukushima station and took the 11:28AM train to Shiojiri. Slightly after Noon I was home.
Over all it was an experience unique in its own way.
